It's been said many times by fans and critic alike, "The vocals and songwriting of Matisyahu are rare and amazing indeed!" Matisyahu, presented by The Lensic from 7:30 - 9 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 31, 2013, is a featured event on the SantaFe.com event calendar.

Based with family in Los Angeles, Matisyahu blasts off yet again with Spark Seeker, a bold new studio album that finds the one-of-a-kind vocalist and songwriter exploring uncharted territory with help from an expansive cast of collaborators. "My musical tastes are all over the board," Matisyahu says in reference to a record that mixes ancient traditional sounds with futuristic electro beats, rapping with singing, songs of the spirit with songs of the body. "And, besides, my music has never been about the outer garment. It's about searching out inspiration wherever it lies. This album is about seeking that spark within."

Outer garments, of course, long defined Matisyahu in the eyes of many. "I was the Hasidic reggae superstar," he says with a knowing laugh. So when Matisyahu took to Twitter late last year to post a personal portrait with a new look, it was done with a certain amount of relief. "It just felt good to sort of restart everything," he says, adding that the transformation actualized one of the central themes of Spark Seeker: the impermanence of the physical form. "The spark seeker digs for truth and meaning and is willing to let go of everything to find it. He's honest and authentic with himself and lives life from the inside out. He creates music from the depths and doesn't worry about what category it or he fits into."